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Background: The age-adjusted incidence rate of breast cancer has increased for Israeli women. Our aim was to explore the hypothesis that occupational exposures are important risk factors, taking into consideration main known risk factors., Methods: The study population included 326 breast cancer cases from one hospital in the center of the country and 413 women without known diagnosis of cancer. Every participant was interviewed using a structured questionnaire., Results: We found that working in textile and clothing and in various industries, OR (95% confidence interval), 1.8 (1.1-3.0), 4.3 (2.0-9.3) respectively, and exposure to ionizing radiation OR 5.3 (2.4-14.1) as well as age and having a family history of breast cancer significantly increased the risk of developing breast cancer. Administrative work, adherence to high fiber diet and low salt diet significantly lowered the risk of breast cancer., Conclusions: Our study supported the assumption that occupational exposure may contribute to the etiology of breast cancer.

Background: A case-control study nested within a cohort study of biomedical laboratory workers was conducted to examine whether the excess cancer morbidity that we found can be explained by exposure to a particular group of substances, taking into consideration potential confounders., Methods: The study population included 163 cases and two matched control groups: laboratory workers (311) and general population (448) workers., Results: Multiple conditional regression analysis showed that working in research laboratories involved an increased risk of cancer generally among women [risk ratio 2.2 (1.2-4.3)], and of breast cancer particularly [risk ratio 2.3 (1.1-4.7). Seventy-six percent (76%) of breast, 87% of thyroid, 60% of ovary and prostate, 94% of melanoma, and 50% of leukemia cases were ever exposed to at least one known human carcinogen., Conclusion: Our results exclude the possibility that the excess cancer morbidity was related to personal risk factors but they may be explained by exposure factors. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:611-626, 2003., (Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Background: Laboratory work is associated with exposure to a mixture of carcinogens., Methods: The cohort is comprised of 4,300 laboratory workers. Cancer incidence was followed from 1960 to 1997., Results: A total of 230 cases were included in the cohort. The overall cancer standardized incidence ratio (SIR) was 1.04 (0.91-1.18). When a 20-year latency was introduced, SIR was increased significantly: 1.35 (1.13-1.61). Among routine workers and researchers, SIR was elevated significantly for the total population and for women, when a 20-year latency was introduced. SIR was also elevated significantly in research, routine, bacteriology and virology, and isotope laboratories. With respect to specific sites, significantly increased SIR was observed in breast, ovary, and thyroid cancer among women; and prostate cancer, leukemia, and melanoma among men., Conclusions: We suggest that work in research and biomedical laboratories might involve an increased risk of certain types of cancer. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:600-610, 2003., (Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Background: We describe the results of a cancer mortality study among asphalt workers in Israel., Methods: Personal identifiers and employment histories of 2,176 workers were extracted from company records., Results: Mortality from all malignant neoplasms was significantly reduced in the whole cohort (SMR 0.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.56-0.83). SMR for lung cancer was elevated in workers exposed to bitumen (SMR 1.05, 95% CI 0.62-1.66). No significant elevation or reduction in mortality was observed in relation to a specific site. SMRs for lung cancer was higher among ever exposed to bitumen than among unexposed. There was no association between lung cancer risk and estimated exposure to bitumen fume, and no dose-response was apparent., Conclusions: While the results of this cohort study indicate a slightly increased SMR for lung cancer, it did not produce evidence of a causal link between lung cancer and exposure to bitumen fume., (Copyright 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)